Tangled is Disney’s 50th animated feature, and it’s a corker. A retelling of the Rapunzel story and packed with humour and action, it deserves to be a big hit. From the writer-directors of Bolt, it looks brilliant, literally. Colours drip from the screen whether you see it in 2 or 3D.
Rapunzel, kidnapped as a child, is brought up by a wicked witch who passes herself off as Rapunzel’s mother. Locked in a high tower, she’s a valuable prize: Rapunzel’s hair has the magical power to heal and restore youth. Longing to see to world outside, Rapunzel seizes the chance when a fleeing bandit, Flynn Rider, hides out in the tower.
Changing the title from Rapunzel to Tangled, Disney got round the fear that boys wouldn’t see a film about a girl with long hair. And the added action and quirky characters – including a funny, ill-tempered horse and an ear-licking, fist-thumping chameleon – add to the sense of fun for all ages.
Produced by an impressive roster of Disney-Pixar talents – including John Lasseter (Monsters Inc, Toy Story 1-2) and Glen Keane (supervising animator for Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin) Tangled has a great pedigree and it shows. The film gleams throughout.
Scenes have been designed simply to show off the stunning animation. Sky lanterns over a lake and Rapunzel’s leap from the tower are gorgeously rendered. And the songs (including When Will My Life Begin and Mother Knows Best) are both funny and hummable. Not surprising, given that Mencken also did the music for Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Enchanted.
Burly baddies, chases, quips and quirky swordfights keep the pace moving and a modern sense of smart irony prevent Tangled seeming like a Disney throwback to earlier times. Flynn, fending off his sword-wielding horse with only a frying pan, calls out “This is the strangest thing I’ve ever done!”.
The voice-cast, led by relative newcomers, brings a great sense of fun - especially Zachery Levi as Flynn. But the teen-princess heroine and the sparky adventurer hero will appeal to all ages, continuing Disney-Pixar’s smart move of pitching their films to the widest possible audience, not just tots and tweenies.
Possibly the best fun you’ll have in the cinema this year and certainly one of 2011’s most beautiful movies, Tangled is quality entertainment. Let your hair down and see it.
